Toy animation picture device



Aug. 9, 1949. JUHN TOY ANIMATION PICTURE DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 5, 1945 J M (W INVENTOR. (0/37 c/ 7///\ www- N6 3 a 06 *M ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1949. K. JUHN 2,478,697

TOY ANIMATION PICTURE DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MM W ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1949. JUHN TOY ANIMATION PICTURE DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 k INVENTOR.

,qrmm/ns (0 7 Jw/A BY Maw Patented Aug. 9, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in toy animation picture devices in which pictures suc cessively presented are designed to be viewed through a sight aperture element upon rotation before the same of a carrier for the pictures.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel picture bearing strip or band for use in a device of this nature, and which band may be readily replaceable therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of picture band whereby it is possible to exhibit two different series of pictures from a single band merely by reversing the direction of the band movement and viewing the different series of pictures respectively through different apertures of the sight aperture element which are brought into position by turning over the device through 180.

The invention has for an object, also, to provide an animation picture device which can be sold in knock-down and unassembled condition in a flat package, suitable for mailing, and a device which i inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a picture animation device which may be readily assembled from elements cut or broken out of fiat stock; and, when assembled, is simple in operation to afford the desired entertainment.

In carrying out the invention, the novel device comprises a suitable frame affording an abutment or retarder portion for engaging the free ends of picture element mounted on a strip or band which is adapted to be detachably secured over the periphery of a rotor rotatably supported in the frame to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to the said retarder portion of the frame. The said frame is provided, also, with a lateral extension whereby the device as a whole may be manually supported, and the rotor element is mounted upon an axle to be rotated manually by a suitable crank handle.

If desired, the various elements of the device may be cut or broken out of a flat sheet of suitable material such as cardboard, strawboard or the like, said elements being formed in a blank of material by perforated outlines. In assembling the elements, they are secured as by gluing portions together and by means of interlocking members, all Without requiring particular mechanical skill.

The picture bearing elements to be exhibited are not carried directly by the rotor of the device but upon a flexible band or strip which may be detachably securedto the rotor over its periphery with the individual picture elements secured to a surface of the band in a manner such as to extend in a generally radial direction outwardly when the band is applied to the rotor. A picture element i designed to receive pictures on both faces such that two different showings may be had with a single band merely by rotating the band in opposite directions and viewing respectively the successions of pictures through diiierent windows or apertures of a sight aperture element screening in part the frame and rotor.

The nature of the invention, however, will best be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a blank perforated to outline the various elements of which the novel device may be constructed, when the same is to be pr0- vided in a knock-down condition.

Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in horizontal section, of the novel device as assembled from the elements included in Fig. 1, and with a picture strip located on the rotor of the device.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the operating end of the device.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the device; and Fig. 5 is a transverse section therethrough, taken on the line 5--5, Fig. 4 of the drawings, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 6 i a plan view of the novel picture strip with a number of the picture bearing elements positioned thereon; and Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section thereof, taken on the line 'i!, Fig. 6 of the drawings.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modifed form of the picture strip with a number of the picture elements positioned thereon; and Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section thereof, taken on the line 9S, Fig. 8 of the drawings.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a blank printed and perforated to provide the individual picture bearing elements for two different s quences of picture showings.

Referring to the drawings, more particularly Figs. 2 to 5 thereof, a more or less rectangularly shaped frame member comprises the bearing ends 20 and 2|, respectively, with an extension from the former, and an intermediate abutment or retarder portion 23 for engaging the free end of a picture element a the same is moved or rotated thereover, as hereinafter more fully set forth. The said retarder portion is also extended from its outer face in opposite directions to provide a sight aperture portion 24 lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of the frame. This aperture portion is provided preferably with two sight apertures 25 and 25, which may be provided with magnifying lenses (not shown) if desired. These apertures are positioned respectively on opposite sides of the retarder portion 23 and are aligned with the travelling picture elements 21 for viewing of a picture through one or the other of the apertures, indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Each of the picture elements is retained by astrip or band 28 supported oh the periphery of a rotor '29.

Rotor 29 is designed to be mounted, for example, upon a square shaft or axle 30 journalle'd in the frame ends 20 and 2|, or rather in the specific embodiment of the invention shown, in an extension portion 3| of the end 2!. The axle 30 is continued outwardly beyond the frame or extension 3| to receive a crank 32 with operating handle 33 whereby the rotor may be turned in the desired direction, it being understood that the device as a whole is manually retained by e s .erie eic glzr U While the device hereinbefore described may be constructedfor delivery completely assembled and of finished and substantial elements, it may be desirable to provide the same in knock down condition for assembly after shipment, and the specific form of the device shown in thedrawings has been designed withthis end in view. Thus, all of the elements required may be derived from a fiat sheet or m nage, Fig. l of the drawings; a

and the picture bearing elements r'nay also be assembled on the strip at the point of use, or the completed strip with picture elements applied may be separately provided, as desired.

As indicated nine, 1-, the sheet has outlined thereon, by means of perrcrations, substantially all of the elements required to assemble the animation picture device hreinbefo'r'e described, these elements being cut or broken out along the one surface or the 's l'iet is coated over with a suitable adhesive so that the particular elements requiring securing may be conveniently constructed from the di-fierent parts by matching the contacting surfaces a attaching the same to each other by fnoistehing discovered surfaces. For example, the frame memberi nay be constructed by the two like hilt-outs 41 designed to be secured to eachfthe'r 'throiigh the adhesive surfaces. The tfir'fg' portioh 24, which is provided I with a rater-eat portioh for ah aperture 25 "Or 26, is scored along the line 42 to perm t of bending the same outwardly, said wii'i'g portion of one cut-out '41 being bent in'a direction opposite to that in which :the'btlier is tent with res'pectto the frame; and these bent portions are preferably reinforced by an additional sight ap'erture portion as the cut-out 24f havi'ng knock-out portions for apertures}? 26' design'edto register with the corresponding apertures 2 and 2B 'of the -wing portions '74. This reinforcing portion is secured over the outer surfaces "of the wings 24 through the adhesive icoating, and the extension portion 3| of the end @"ljof the frame is also included with the put-put 2 and is bendable at right angles thereto "long-the scoring line 4-3 to be secured tosaid through the adhesive coating. A circular -butportion in the extension provides a bea rig {for the axle 30.

To construct this ax-1e, the same may be constituted of a plurality of cues in "the nature of elongated cut-outs 45, outlined as indicated, two cooperating plies being slitted inwardly at one end to receiver joui ilal for iiinl;1ril5irig the axle in "the one end an attire-trains. such journal 46 is held in place from lateral displacement by a pair of paper or cardboard retaining plates 46'. The crank 32 may be provided of a pair of cutouts 41 which are to be superposed and united, and have square knock-outs to provide registering apertures 48 of dimensions similar to those of the axle for mounting of the crank thereon. Small circular knock-outs 49 are also provided to afford registering openings in the outer end of the crank designed to receive the handle 33. Both the handle 33 and the journal 46 may be removably attached to the sheet by means of the adhesive thereover so that said sheet may provide all of the necessary elements for constructing the novel device.

The rotor element of this device may conveniehtly be constructed therefrom in providing a plurality of disks which may similarly be cut out and assembled as hereinafter set forth. Thus, two circular end disks 59 are outlined and each is rovided with a square central knock-out to afford an opening 5! through which the axle 30 may pass and secure said disks 50 thereon against relative rotation. Provision is similarly made for a pair of diametrally disposed slots 52 within the circumferential outline, as well as a pair of diametrally disposed. inwardly directed slits 53 at right angles to said slots. in addition, provision is made for a holding, radially disposed slit 54 and a further holding but curved slit 55 which are circumferentially displaced from each other and are directed inwardly from the circular outline.

Between the said end disks 50 there is designed to be mounted upoh the shaft 3 a plurality of circular disks which are outlined by the perforations and are rovided with a central circular knock-out to afiord an opening 6! designed to pass the axle, with diametral slits '62 extending perforated outlines, as is well understood The +1 radially therefro mvisicn is inadealso, r

a pair of d'iarnetrally disposed slits 63 inwardly -irected from the circumference of said disks 6!) and at right angles to the slits 62.

Means are provided to interlock the disks 6?] with the end disks 53 on said axle SO that "all may rotate With the latter. This may conveniently be effected by pairs of spacing elements as and 66 which are outlined indicated, Fig. 1-. Both pairs are further outlined to provide slits 6 1 and respectively, directed inwardly from a longitudinal edge thereof. In addition, the spacing elements 56 are outlined to provide reduced ends or tabs $3. To assemble the various disks, the slits '62 of the lesser diameter disks 60 are aligned to receive spacing elements 35 which are introduced through the openings Fl, and the slits -68 of a spacing element are brought to interlock with correspondin'g'slits 62 of the 'dislcs B0. The end disks 5!! are then mounted on the axle with their slots 52 fitted over the respective ends 69 of spacing elements "36. This secures alignment of slits 53 0f the end d-i'sks with the slits 63'of the intermediate disks; and spacing elements %5 are then inserted into said slits with the corresponding slits E1 interlocking therewith. This affords a sufiiciently rigid rotor element designed to receive over the periphery of the intermediate disks and between the end 'disks, which afiord end guides, the picture bearing strip or band 28.

This band with picture elements carried thereby is shown more particularly in Figs. 6-10 of't'he drawings. As indicated therein, the band 28 is of sufficient length to anew or being wrapped entirely over the peri hery or the rotor as well as to anew 0f aslight overlap con f'orniirrg 1711 8 displacement of the holding slits 54 and 55. The band is preferably of substantial thickness but is rendered sufliciently flexible for the purpose, for example, by transverse scoring lines 10, provided over the surface, except at the ends of the band. These ends are maintained relatively rigid and for this purpose may be doubled upon themselves, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings. These ends are also provided with lateral extension H and 12 for fitting respectively the slits 54 and 55.

' Band 28 is also transversely slotted along the said scoring lines which are uniformly spaced, the slotting being designed to provide openings 15 for mounting picture elements 16. These picture elements are formed of a more or less flexible strip which is doubled upon itself at regular intervals to provide a succession of picture elements extending longitudinally along the band to project outwardly from its surface at each of the openings or slots 15 with outer faces more or less convex. By providing a picture element as a doubled portion of the picture bearing strip, pictures may be provided on both exposed faces of the element for animation of two different sequences, as will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

The picture bearing strip is conveniently attached to the band 28 by threading the same through the transverse openings 15 therein and by having the under surface of the band 28 coated with a suitable adhesive which, when moistened, allows of the attachment particularly at the ends of the bearing strip of tab portions H at the respective ends. Or, as indicated in Figs. 8 and 9, the upper surface of band 80 may be coated with an adhesive 8| and the end tab por- ,tions 82 as well as the clear portions 83 of the picture bearing strip 84 secured directly to this upper surface of the band.

The said picture bearing strip may be provided in any convenient manner, and one means of affording such strip is indicated in Fig. of the drawings. For example, a sheet 85 may be perforated longitudinally to provide a series of adjacent rows of narrow picture strips 86 of pairs of picture frames, the pictures of a pair being of differing sequences, and the strips affording a series of separate sections of pictures for convenience in attaching a strip to its carrying band. The pairs are consecutively numbered to assure correct mounting of a strip upon its carrying band 28, and a fold line 81 separates the two different pictures of a pair. The strip is intended to be doubled upon itself at each of these fold lines to present a single double-faced picture element with the intermediate and narrow blank tab portions 83 between pairs of pictures for attachment.

Operation of the device will be apparent from Figs. 3-5, inclusive, it being necessary merely to wind the picture bearing band, with double-faced picture elements projecting therefrom, about the periphery of the rotor member, as shown in Fig. 3. The device is then supported in the position indicated in Fig. 4, with one hand of the operator grasping the extension 22 and the other operating the crank. handle 33 to rotate the axle 30 in a clockwise direction. As the rotor is turned in this direction, the picture elements contact at their respective outer ends with the abutment or retarder member 23, a picture element being released from contact therewith to snap suddenly u into a more or less vertical position wherein it is visible through the sight aperture 25. By

regulating the angular velocity of the rotor member, there ma be produced a sequence of action or animated effect from the successively presented pictures. To secure presentation of the other sequence of pictures, it is necessary merely to reverse the device and hold the extension 22 in position with the other or right hand and effect with the left hand rotation of the rotor in a clockwise direction. This brings into position for viewing the pictures through the other sight aperture 2 6.

It will be understood that the same result may be obtained without inverting the device merely by imparting a counterclockwise rotation to the rotor, in which case, however, the arrangement of the pairs of individual pictures on the doubled portions of the strip is such that these pictures all face in the same direction.

Iclaim:

1. An exhibiting device, comprising a frame affording a single retarder portion, a rotor supported therein to rotate about an axis substantially parallel to said retarder portion, together with means whereby to rotate the rotor, and a flexible picture-bearing band detachably wrapped over the periphery of the rotor for rotation there with, together with flexible picture elements having pictures on their opposite faces, said elements being adapted to project outwardly from the band and rotor in a generally radial direction and designed to contact successively at their free ends with the said retarder portion as the rotor is rotated in either direction, and a sight aperture element screening in part the frame and rotor and affording a pair of apertures located respectively at opposite sides of the retarder portion for viewing respectively pictures upon opposite sides of the picture elements following contact of a picture element with the retarder portion and in accordance with the direction of rotation of the said rotor.

2. An exhibiting device, comprising a rectangularly shaped frame with hearing ends and an intermediate single retarder portion, there being provided at one end of the frame an extension for supporting the device, and said retarder portion being extended at right angles to the plane of the frame and provided with a pair of sight apertures located at opposite sides of the retarder portion, a rotor element mounted between the ends of the frame for rotation about an axis substantially parallel to the said retarder portion, together with means external the frame for rotating said rotor, and a flexible picture-bearing band removab-ly supported over the periphery of the rotor for rotation therewith, together with flexible picture elements having pictures on their opposite faces, said elements projecting outwardly from the band and rotor in a generally radial direction and contacting successively at their free ends with the said retarder portion as the rotor is rotated in either direction for viewing through the corresponding sight aperture respectively pictures following contact with the retarder portion in accordance with the direction of rotation of said rotor.

3. An exhibiting device as claimed in claim 1, in which the rotor is carried upon a shaft mounted for rotation in the ends of the frame and comprises a pair of end disks and intermediate disks of lesser diameter, together with means to hold the disks together in spaced relationship, the picture-bearing band being designed to fit over the intermediate disks between the end sdiSkS land to :be memorably ietteohehle to the latter :disks.

, 4. An :exhibiting device .as .cla,imed in oleim :2, in which :the :frame, with end extension, intermediate retarder portion and sight aperture :nQr- ;tions, is constructed of apairaof duplicate pieces vsecured :together, and a reinforcing plate is selcureds'over the-sight aperture :portions with aner tures ith'ereof registering with :the apertures f s'aid:.sight iaperture .portions, and ;.is Joent atirisht angles and secured to one end of the frame it!) affordia, shearing for the rotor, :theopposite hearing :being provided :by :the inner portion :of the said send extension.

:5. 1A rotor assembly for :mounting upon in 'square section axle, comprising .:a pairroispaoedapart send :disks :with :square :central openings :to fit the axle for rotationztherewith,-a;pairrofsdiam-- etrally disposed slits in each of rthe :dtsks directediinwardlygfrom the:circumference'ithereof and a :pair :of :diametraily disposed .slots :in reach of the :disks at right angles foo :the said ,sslots ithereof, tee-chef said .disks also being :provided :withra ratfiakholdingnslit and 1a :circumferentially :displaced curved holding slit :both .tdirected -:in-

weirdly from the circumference; a, :plurality :of intermediate disks having central circular openiing's,:.said disksvbeing: of lesser. diameter :than the said end afliSkS, and each having :a :pairzof .dia-m- *etrally disposed .slits -:at right :angles ato :the :said

rcircumferentialslits andextending inwardly: from -the1respective central circular :openings thereof; and longitudinal strip-s inwardly slitted ito ralign acircumferential "slits of :the respective end .i disks --an'd.-retain thelatter inspace'd relationship,.and

'additional longitudinal strips zin-Wardly slitted 1 to fit the slitsifronrthercircular openingsofathe: intermediate :disks land having :end tabs fitting Y through the-slots of the respective: end 'disks.

f 6. Aniexhibiting .device, comprisingvanielement including a frame of a pair of duplicate {pieces securedstogether, into a-flat, rectangularly-shaped imember with ends and. an i intermediate retarder ;pcrtion, there being 1 provided :atone end :an exi3 ten n iefierdlne m ans i or supporting the %devise thsnpp tee di eine oft eduee -l e hend the ret rder po t on ha ing opp s el dire ed r nsi es a ri ht a g 1 t an 21 st uro id wit re e ive sigh-t e e tu es, a roto moun ed betw the ends of the frame .i zlQtflfiQB a ou en xit su st nt a rara lq t t e ssidr t rdergm on, toge he withimea ne ext nal ithe name o efit ng m ually said wa er, whic nt ucle e d sk and int rmediate disks of lesser diameter, together mithgneans t e ract the le di li t9 t e firmer d s in rfi flQfii fig afiiQ f fihi and 'flfiXiQfi'DiPtPJ-Peb in a end .e,moveb su po te an the ree he s er :the me er, f .rq etiqn the w t endst r es thereto zthr us e ite of t e end i i ks r direoted fi qm th c r um e en ths ep togathe with fl e pi tu e e eme ts proier '11s 'QmiwardH ifrom said be d end rotor in newe (any radial dir ction and d sign d to r c n s :sueqe s ve y t the r re .e s w th h eem. e- :tarder mor nn as :the Q or-i rotat d i o iew ng a r r ur through ;a si h a er ure :KUB

REF RENCES C TE-E The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED lstrsres ,PATENTS 

